Safety arrangement for filling and emptying an anesthetic vaporizer

ABSTRACT

A safety arrangement for filling and emptying an anesthetic vaporizer via a supply vessel connected thereto includes a movable tube-shaped conducting member having first and second ends. A vessel-connecting piece is provided on its first end and an index member is provided on its second end for engaging a vaporizer. The tubular-shaped conducting member has a ventilating channel separate from the filling channel and the safety arrangement is improved with respect to its use characteristics. This improvement is obtained in that a joint piece is connected to the second end of the tubular conducting member intended for the vaporizer. An index member is rotatably journalled in the joint piece and contains respective line segments of the filling channel and the ventilating channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a safety arrangement for filling and emptyingan anesthetic vaporizer via a connected supply vessel. The safetyarrangement includes a movable tubular conducting member which includesa vessel connecting piece at its first end and is provided with an indexmember on its second end for engaging with the vaporizer. The tubularconducting piece has a ventilating channel separated from the fillingchannel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The application of a safety filling system is prescribed for filling ananesthetic vaporizer. In this safety filling system, the filling tubehas a non-interchangeable index member for engaging the vaporizer andhas a coded vessel cap for making an exclusive connection with a supplyvessel having a predetermined filling. The tubular conducting membermust be lifted for the filling operation when the anesthetic vessel isconnected thereto and must again be lowered for emptying.

The publication of Drgerwerk Aktiengesellschaft entitled "Safety FillingSystem for Vapor 19.1" (No. 5327.09) of Dec. 19, 1984 discloses theapplication of a tubular conducting member in the form of an elasticfilling hose. In this application, bending loads occur which can lead toa premature wear and a fatigue fracture at the connecting location whichis dangerous during use. Furthermore, it is difficult to close off thefilling hose during non-use so that a run-out of the anesthetic liquidand of the vapors is reliably prevented. A further difficulty associatedwith the use of such filling hoses is that elastic plastic materialsmust contain srfteners which can be dissolved out by the anesthetic andreach the breathing air loop of the patient in an impermissib1e manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,905 discloses a vaporizer for an anesthetic having apivotable connecting piece for attaching a supply vessel. Thisconnecting piece includes a coded bottle-connecting stub adapted onlyfor bottles that fit and contains a valve which is open when a bottlecontaining the anesthetic is utilized or when a flexible connectingpiece is introduced. Such an arrangement requires improvement withreference to handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a safety arrangement of thekind described above which includes a tubular conducting member and ajoint member connected to the conducting member at the vaporizer end ofthe latter. A blockable index member is rotatably journalled in thejoint piece and the index member contains conduit segments of thefilling channel and the ventilating channel. Because of the rotatablejoint formed between the joint piece and the index member, it is notnecessary to apply a bending load to the tubular conducting member forlifting and lowering during the filling or emptying operation.Furthermore, it is possible to utilize rigid metal or inflexible plasticmaterials free of softeners. With the application of form-rigidmaterials, constant cross sections of the filling channel and of theventilating channel are obtained and uniform filling and emptying timesare achieved for various safety arrangements of the same kindindependent of batch.

A blocking device can be advantageously integrated in the region of therotatable joint formed between the index member and the joint piece. Theblocking device is switchable between a blocking position and a releaseposition and in the blocking position, this device closes off thefilling channel and the ventilating channel. The blocking device ispreferably configured so as to be movable in such a manner that it movesinto the blocking position when the index member is removed from thevaporizer. The blocking device can be actuated by means of an axialdisplacement as well as also by means of a radial rotation of the indexmember. However, a hand-actuated valve appears to be advantageous forspecific applicational purposes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the index membercan be displaceably journalled in the joint piece in the manner of apiston against a pressure spring and have conduit segments which areindependent of rotational position and which communicate with thefilling channel as well as with the ventilating channel only in therelease position. The ventilating channel can be advantageouslyconfigured as a central conduit piece which engages at one end in theindex member and in a piston-like guide part with the index member andthe piston-like guide part being rotatably or displaceably and rotatablyjournalled as a component in the joint piece. The conduit connection isindependent of rotational position and is preferably configured as slotsformed on the periphery of the index member and/or on the guide part.

The tubular conducting member is advantageously assembled from an outerfilling tube made of metal or transparent or translucent plastic free ofsofteners and an inner ventilating tube made of metal or anothermaterial which is resistant to anesthetic. The index member and thejoint piece are nickel-plated brass parts or can be made ofcorrosion-free materials resistant to anesthetic. Alternatively, theseparts can be made of softener-free plastic such as polyamide. Thesealing elements for providing a seal between the joint piece and theindex member rotatably journalled therein are advantageously O-ringseals resistant to anesthetic and can be made, for example, fromfluorinated rubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section taken through a safety arrangementaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through an alternate embodimentof the safety arrangement according to the invention which is equippedwith a blocking device shown in its blocking position; and,

FIG. 3 is a portion of the safety arrangement of FIG. 2 showing theblocking device in its release position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a tubular conducting member 1 having first and second endswith a vessel connector configured as a threaded cap 2 provided at thefirst end. A seal disk 3 is provided in the threaded cap for sealing abottle containing anesthetic which is not shown and which threadablyengages the threaded cap.

The tubular conducting member 1 is made of a softener-free transparentor translucent plastic or of metal and has an interior space foraccommodating a metal ventilating tube 4. A joint piece 5 is connectedto the second end of the tubular conducting member 1.

An index member 8 is disposed in the joint piece 5 and is sealed at itsperiphery with an O-ring seal 6. The index member 8 accommodates linesegment 9 of the filling channel and a centrally disposed line segment10 of the ventilating channel. The outlet openings (11, 12) of thefilling channel and ventilating channel of the line segments (9, 10),respectively, can be closed by a sealing cap for blocking. The sealingcap is removable when the system is in use and is placed on the indexmember 8.

A pin 7 is located in the joint piece 5 and engages an annular slot 30of the index member 8 and secures the index member 8 against axialdisplacement in the joint piece 5.

The line segment 10 of the ventilating channel is connected via aconnecting bore passage 13 with the ventilating tube 4 with a hollowguide part 18 connected therebetween. The guide part 18 is rotatablewith the index member 8 and has an O-ring seal 21 as shown.

The filling channel 14 is formed in the tubular conducting member 1 andis connected with the line segment 9 of the filling channel via aconnecting passage 15 disposed in the joint piece 5.

When a vessel containing anesthetic is attached to the threaded cap 2,the index member 8 is guided into the corresponding receiving opening onthe anesthetic vaporizer. The filling or emptying operation can becarried out by pivoting the tubular part 1 with the vessel containinganesthetic attached thereto about the rotational joint with the latterbeing formed in the joint piece 5 so as to permit rotation with respectto the index member 8.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a blocking device isintegrated in the region of the rotational joint formed between theindex member 8 and the joint piece 5. The blocking device closes off thefilling channel and the ventilating channel in its blocking position.

FIG. 2 shows the safety filling system in its blocking condition.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the index member 8 is displaceable in apiston-like manner in a bore 16 of the joint piece 5 and is connectedvia a central conduit section 17 of the ventilating channel with a guidepart 18 which is likewise configured so as to have a piston-likeconfiguration. O-ring seal 19 is provided on index member 8 and isdisplaceable therewith. Likewise, O-ring seals (21, 22) are provided onthe piston-like guide part 18 and are likewise displaceable therewith. Afurther stationary O-ring seal 20 is provided in a slot 31 of the bore16.

The index member 8 lies against a helical pressure spring 23 braced inthe joint piece 5 and is thereby urged into the blocking position shownin FIG. 2 in which the line segments (9, 10) of the filling channel andthe ventilating channel, respectively, are blocked with respect tocorresponding parts in the tubular conducting member 1. The displacementof the index part 8 in the joint piece 5 is limited by an indexing part25 engaging into a hollow cylindrically-shaped annular recess 24.

The line segment 9 of the filling channel communicates with a peripheralannular beveled slot 26 via bore 32 so as to be independent of position.The line segment 10 of the ventilating channel communicates with abeveled slot 27 via bore 33 of the guide part 18. The slot 27 is formedin the periphery of the guide part 18 and is formed in a manner similarto annular slot 26.

FIG. 3 shows the operating position wherein the index member 8 is guidedinto the vaporizer while at the same time pressure is applied to thejoint piece 5 in the direction of the arrow 34. In this way, the indexmember 8 is displaced in the joint piece 5 and takes along the guidepart 18 into the position shown. In this position, the through paths ofthe filling channel and of the ventilating channel are cleared andcommunicate with the stationary line passage 15 and the connecting borepassage 13, respectively.

The parts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which are not referred to correspond tothe same components shown in FIG. 1.

It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferredembodiments of the invention and that various changes and modificationsmay be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Safety arrangement for filling and emptying ananesthetic vaporizer having an inlet means for supplying anestheticmedium and relieving gas to and from said vaporizer, said anestheticmedium contained within a supply vessel, the safety arrangementcomprising:a movable tubular conducting member having first and secondends and including structure defining a first ventilating channelsegment and a first filling channel segment separated from saidventilating channel segment; vessel connecting means provided on saidfirst end for detachably connecting the supply vessel to said tubularconducting member; a joint member having two end portions definingrespective axes conjointly defining an angle therebetween less than 180°and one of said end portions being connected to said second end of saidtubular conducting member; an index member adapted to be inserted intosaid inlet means for communicating with the vaporizer and defining alongitudinal axis, said index member including means for preventing saidindex member from rotating with respect to the vaporizer when insertedinto said inlet means and having structure defining a second ventilatingchannel segment and a second filling channel segment; journalling meansformed in the other one of said end portions of said joint member forrotatably journalling said joint member on said index member so as topermit said joint member and said conducting member to conjointly rotateabout said longitudinal axis to swing the supply vessel from a locationbeneath said longitudinal axis to a location above said longitudinalaxis thereby causing the contents of the vessel to flow from the latterand down through said first filling channel and then through saidfilling passage means to said second filling channel; and, said jointmember including ventilating passage means for interconnecting saidfirst and second ventilating channel segments and filling passage meansfor interconnecting said first and second filling channel segmentsirrespective of the angular position of said index member relative tosaid joint member.
 2. The safety arrangement of claim 1, said indexmember being displaceably mounted in said joint member; and, thearrangement further comprising blocking means for blocking and clearingsaid ventilating passage means and said filling passage means independence upon the position of said index member in said joint member.3. The safety arrangement of claim 2, said index member being movablymounted in said joint member from a first position wherein the vaporizeris disconnected from said index member and said blocking means blockssaid passages to a second position wherein said vaporizer is connectedto said index member and said blocking means clears said passages. 4.The safety arrangement of claim 3, said index member defining alongitudinal axis and said index member being displaceably mounted insaid joint member so as to be displaceable along said axis between saidfirst and second positions.
 5. The safety arrangement of claim 4, saidjoint member having an elongated cylindrical opening for accommodatingsaid index member therein; said arrangement further comprising apressure spring arranged in said cylindrical opening so as to beinterposed between said joint member and said index member; said indexmember being disposed in said cylindrical opening in the manner of apiston so as to be displaceable between said positions against the forceof said spring; said index member including first and second ancillarypassages formed therein for interconnecting corresponding ones of saidventilating and filling passage means with said second ventilatingchannel and said second filling channel, respectively, when said indexmember is in said second position.
 6. The safety arrangement of claim 5,said structure of said index member including a conduit section definingsaid second ventilating channel segment and being coincident with saidlongitudinal axis; said arrangement further including a piston-likeguide part displaceably mounted in said joint member so as to be movablealong said axis; and, said conduit section having first and second endportions connected with said guide part and said index member,respectively, so as to cause said guide part to be movable with saidindex member; said index member having a cylindrical cavity formedtherein along said axis for accommodating said conduit section, saidconduit section and the wall surface of said cavity conjointly formingan annular space defining said second filling channel segment.
 7. Thesafety arrangement of claim 6, said first ancillary passage being formedin said guide par for interconnecting said conduit section and saidventilating passage means independently of the angular position of saidindex member relative to said joint member when said index member is insaid second position; and, said second ancillary passage being formed insaid index member for interconnecting said annular space and saidfilling passage means also independently of the angular position of saidindex member relative to said joint member when said index member is insaid second position.
 8. The safety arrangement of claim 6, furthercomprising first anesthetic resistant O-ring seal means interposedbetween said index member and the wall surface of said cylindricalopening; and, second anesthetic resistant O-ring seal means interposedbetween said guide part and joint member.
 9. The safety arrangement ofclaim 1, said structure of said tubular conducting member including anouter filling tube made of softener-free transparent plastic and aninner ventilating tube made of metal defining said first ventilatingchannel segment; and, said outer filling tube and said inner ventilatingtube conjointly forming an annular space defining said first fillingchannel segment.